Dehydrating apparatus



C. SHORMAN.

DEHYDRATING APPARATUS.

' APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18| 1915.

1,324,073. Patented Dec. 9,1919.

2 SHEETS-snm x.

. A/ Waan/L.

Z50/en Zvrf C. SHORNIAN.

DEHYDRATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILI-:IJ IIINE 18, 1915.

Patented Dec. 9, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- CHAUNCEY SHORMAN, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DEHYDRATING APPARATUS.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 9, 1919.

Application filed June 18, 1915. Serial No. 34,919.

To all whom z't may concern: y

Be itl known that I, CHAUNCEY SHORMAN,

' a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain newand useful Improvements lin Dehydrating Ap-A paratus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements 1n dehydrating apparatus, and has for 1ts ob ject to provide a dehydrator in which the dehydrating air or other gas may be readily and eiiciently distributed among the` ma-` terials or food stuffs being treated.. V

Still another object is to provide 1n such apparatus, a rotatable air distributing member, together with means to rotate .the same.

Still another object is to provide a rotatable distributing member operated by a rotatable motor, in turn operable by dehydrating air or gas which is used to treat the products to be dehydrated, the air or gas used for the operation of the motor being also utilized for dehydrating' Still anotherobject is to provide a new and improved form of tray and tray supporting4 framework, together with means for mounting the same in the dehydrating chamber. Y A

A'further object is to provide a new and improved door having a plurality of locking means simultaneously operable.

These and other objects will be more fully set forth and described in the following specification and shown in' the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my dehydratingv apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view, a portion thereof being taken along the line 2a-2a of Fig.' 3; another portion being taken along the line 2b-25 of Fig. 3; another portion being taken along line 2- c. of Fig. 3, and the remainder along the line 2fl2d of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a side eleva-tion of the dehydrat- Ving vshell lshowing a portion thereof broken away;

Fig. 4 is f vertical section of a detail of the fan construction; e

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of aportion of the air distributing tube;

Fig. 6 is a transverse horizontal section of the same; and f Fig. 7 is a perspective of one vof the trays, a portion of one side thereof being broken away. i

Like numerals refer to `like elements throughout the drawings, in which 10 designates generally my `complete dehydrating apparatus consisting of a fan 11, a condenser 12, aheater 13, and the dehydrator proper or the dehydrating chamberlt. A supply tube or duct-15 leads from the fan 11 to the member 12, ytherefrom to the member 13, and therefrom through the portion 15- to the vertical -inlet pipe 15b which communicates through the top 14a of the shell 14 with the` interior thereof. This Supply tube 15b is continued upwardly of its juncture with the portion 15a, as indicated by numeral 15C. A fan motor casing 16 is mounted above the pipe 15` and therein is `located the fan proper 17 consisting of the blades lvmounted on the hubs 17", carried by shaft 17C. Thehub and shaft are supported upon Vthe ring 17d to which they are connected by the legs 17e. A supporting plate 18 for-ming part of the casing 16, is mounted upon the top of the pipe 15,

and is apertured, as is rino' 17d, to furnish an outlet from the fancasing. A ball race 18aL is provided in the plate 18 and ballbearings 19 are located thereon, serving to support the ring 17d. From the elbow 15a of pipe 15 leads a `pipe 2() having a valve 21 therein, this pipe leading to the inlet opening of the fan casing 16. This pipe is intended to furnish a supply of air from the pipe 15a, under pressure, to the .motor casing 16, to operate the blades 17a after which such air, which forms'a part of the dehydrating gas, is conveyed through pipe portions 15C-15b, to the interior of the dehydrating shell. To insure the proper operation of this motor and supplying of air thereto, I provide the valve casing` 22 in the pipe 15a,` between the portion 15b and the elbow 15a. In this valve casing 22 is mounted a well-known form of valve, not shown, the stem 23 of which projects upwardly from the casing 22 against the lever 24C on which is slidably mounted the weight- 25,' so that the same may be regulated, as is `well known to those skilled in the art, to

of the air flowing through pipe portion 15" may be automatically reduced and maintained at such reduced pressure. In this manner it will be obvious that the fan motor will operate, owing to difference in pressure, between the supply and exhaust. The dehydrator 14 is supported upon the legs 14h, and preferably above the ground level, and an outlet pipe 27 extends from the bottom thereof back to the fan 11, the latter serving not only to supply the dehydrating air or gas to the dehydrator, but also circulating the same continually. -A supporting ring 14c is located in the shell 14 adjacent the bottom thereof. Upon this ring are mounted the rollers 14d. Adjacent the center of the bottom of the shell 14 is located the supporting plate 14e mounted upon theV supporting legs 14f, see Fig. 3. In the top of this plate 14'e are provided a lurality of ball races for a purpose to be A ereinafter described. A tray supporting framework, generally indicated by numeral 30, is located in the shell. This framework consists of a bottom peripheral ring 30a mounted upon the rollers 14d. Extending upwardly from this ring 30i are the uprights 30", and at the top thereof is the top angle ring 30e.' A second smaller concentric bottom ring 3()d is providedthe same being mounted upon ball bearings 31 carried'on plate 14". Uprights 30t extend upwardly from the ring 30", and cross braces V30Lz extend between the pairs of uprights 30'b and 301, as is clearly shown in Fig. 2. These cross braces consist of angle bars,

each having a web adjacent and in contact,

being slightly separated to permit the insertion of .the uprights 60b and 30f. Circular tieebars 30h are provided adjacent the outer periphery of the framework and similar inner circular tie-bars 3()l are also provided. Baiiie plates or spreaders 30 eX-. tend between and are attached to the braces 30g, see Fig. 2. This construction provides a central space in the framework 30 and in this space is mounted the air distributing tube 32, see Fig. 5, for example. This tube is provided with rows of peripheral slots or apertures 32, the apertures of -each row being staggered with respect to those of the adjacent rows, as is clearly shown in Fig. 5. A shaft 34 is centrally located in the tube 32- and is operatively connected to shaft 17"' of the fan motor 17. The shaft 34 is secured by cross pins 34 to the tube 32, thel latter being closed by the plate 35 at its lower end, this plate rest-ing upon ball bearings 36 supported upon the plate 14, see Fig. 3.

I provide removable trays, generally indicated by numeral 40, the same being of a sector shape and arranged to fit uponadjacent pairs of braces 30g, as indicated in Fig. 2. vThese trays are constructed with the sides 40 and 40", being open at their constructed of screen, to permit thorough v circulation of the dehydrating gas.

The shell 14 of the dehydrator is provided with the-opening 14, around which is mounted the flange or casing 14S. The latter is provided with the sockets 14t at its sides and bottom, as yis shown in. Figs. 1 and 3. At its top are provided the undercut or slotted lugs 14u. A door 45 is provided, and the same is hinged at 45a to one side of the casing 14S, see Fig. 1. This door is provided with a plurality of slidable locking bolts 45b at the sides thereof, these locking bolts being slidable in the straps 45, and preferably beveled or wedge-shaped to insure a tight lit of the door. Other straps 45d are provided, preferably along the center line of the door and in these straps is reciprocably mounted a common locking bar 46 having a reduced lower end 46a and an enlarged head 46b at -its upper end. Toggle links 47 extend from the locking bar 46A to the sliding bolts 45b and a rack 46d is provided on the locking bar 46. A rotatable gear 48 meshes with the rack 46d and is' arranged for rotation by the handle 49, the action being as follows:

When the gear is rotated inea clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, the bar 46 will be raised and the door unlocked. I-n reversing this operation the bar 46 will be lowered and the locking bolts 45b fit in the sockets 14t while the reduced end 46a of theI bar 46 will enter socket 14t and the head 46b of the bar will slide beneath the lugs 141. By this construction it will be 'apparent that I lock my door at a number of points simultaneously, at the top, sides and bottoni. This is a great advantage in a device of this `nature where dehywill drating gas-is supplied under pressure, since y time sufficient'air is supplied through pipe y shaft 34 is rotated, thus operating to rotate the tube 32. The air from the fan motor 17 exhausts through the tube 15, also into the distributing tube 32. As trays of food or material become sufficiently treated they .may be extracted, one vertical yseries at a time, through the opening 14'.

30 rotated to bring another vertical. row of trays into` alinement with the-opening 14. To provide for this rotation of the framework 30, I provide sockets 30" in the Fresh. trays may be inserted and the framework .20 to operate the fan motor 17, and the ring in which may be inserted a bar orsimllar instrument, through the opening 14T.

It will be obvious that I have provided a new and improved structure and that my invention is' susceptible of many modifications and improvements, and I do not Wish to be restricted to the form shown or described beyond the scope of the appendedclaims.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus of the class described, a dehydrating chamber, means to supply dehydrated gas thereto,` rotatable means to distribute said gas in said chamber, and means to rotate said ,last-named means comprising a motor, said motor being operable by gas supplied from said first-named means.

2. In apparatus of the class described, a dehydrating chamber, a rotatable member therein, means to supply air to said member, means to rotate said member, said means comprising a rotatable motor, and means to supply air from said air supply to said motor to operate the same.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a dehydrating` chamber comprising a lshell, tray supporting means mounted in said shell, means tosupply dehydrating air or the like to said chamber,` means to circulate said air in said chamber, said lmeans comprisingl a rotatable tube, and means to, rotate said tube by the supply of air thereto.

4. In apparatus of the class described a dehydrating chamber comprising a shell,

tray supporting means mounted in said'V shell, means to supplvv dehydrating air or the like to said chamber, means to circulate said air in said chamber, said means comprising a. centrally located tube, and means for discharging the` air from said chamber at a point opposite to that of its supply.

.5. In apparatus of the class described, a dehydrating chamber comprising a shell, tray supporting means mounted in said shell, means 'to supply dehydrating air or the like to said chamber, means to circulate said air in said chamber, said ineans comprising a rotatable tube, said tube being provided With peripheral rows of apertures, and means to rotate said tube by the supply'.

of air thereto.'

'6. In apparatus of the class described, a dehydrating chamber comprising a shell, tray supporting means mounted in said shell, means to supply dehydrating air or the like to said chamber, and means to circulate i said air in said chamber, said means comprising a rotatable tube, said tube being pro vided with peripheral rowsl of apertures, the apertures in one row being staggered with respectto the adjacent rows.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, a dehydrating chamber, meansto support materials to be dried in said chamber, and

an air distributing member mounted in said chamber, said member being provided with apertures arranged to permit circulation among said material supporting means, and means operable by the incoming air to rotate said distributing means. y. 8. In apparatus of the class described, a dehydrating chamber, trays mounted in said chamber, and a rotatable air distributing member mounted in said chamber, said member bein provided with apertures alining with an arranged to circulate air among said trays, and means to rotate said tube by the admission ofthe air thereto.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a dehydrating cha-mber, of means forl supporting within said chamber the materials to be dehydrated, air distributing means extending within said chamber, and means for rotating said distributinfrV means relatively to the materials to be dehydrated.

10. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a substantially cylindrical dehydrating chamber, of means for removably supporting the materials to be dehydrated within said chamber, an air distributing conduit extending within said chamber and having spaced air discharge apertures, and means for rotating said conduit relatively to the materials to be dehydrated.

11. In apparatus of the class described, a

dehydratin'g chamber comprising a shell,

tray supporting mea-ns rotatably mounted in said shell, trays slidably carried. by said means, said trays each being provided with an open end, and an apertured distributing dehydrating chamber comprising` a shell, l

tray supporting means rotatably mounted in said shell, trays slidably carried by said means, said trays each being provided with .an open end, and an apertured distributing tube mounted in said shell to.`rotate relatively to and to circulate air through said open ends of said trays, said trays being open at their 'tops and provided with foraminous bottoms. l

13. In apparatus of the class described, a dehydrating chamber comprising a shell, a supportin plate carried adjacent the bottom of said shell, a rotatable tube mounted in said shell and supported upon said plate,

andv means to rotate said tube.

14. In apparatus of the class described, a dehydrating chamber comprising a shell, a supporting plate carried adjacent the bottom of said shell, a rotatable tube mounted in said shell and supported upon said plate, and means to rotate said tube, said means comprising a shaft attached to said tube and `20 and attached thereto.

frame, said frame also being rotatably supported upon said plate. n,

16. In apparatus of the class described, a dehydrating chamber vcomprising a shell, a tray supporting framework located in said shell, said framework comprising spaced up rights, braces extending between said uprights and attached thereto, circular tie-bars extending between said uprights, and gusset plates extending between adjacent braces 17. In apparatus of the class described, a dehydrating chamber comprising a shell, a tray supporting framework located in said shell, said framework comprising spaced uprights, braces extending between said upiights and attached thereto, circular tie-bars extending between said uprights, and gusset plates extending between adjacent braces and attached thereto, said framework being rotatably mounted in said shell.

18. In apparatusof the class described, a`

dehydrating chamber, a conduit arranged to supply air or the like thereto, a pressure reducing Valve located in said conduit, an air distributing member located in said shell and communicating with said conduit, means to rotate said member, said means comprising a rotatable air operated motor, and means to supply air to said motor, said last-named means comprising a conduit leading from said main air supply tube outwardly of said pressure reducing valve.

19. In apparatus of the class described, a dehydrating chamber, a conduit arranged to supply air or the like thereto, a pressure reducing valve located in said conduit, an air distributing member located in saidA shell and communicating with said conduit, means to rotate said member, said means comprising a rotatable air operated motor,

and means to supply air to said motor, said" last-named means comprising a conduit leading from said main air supply tube outwardly of said pressure reducing Valve, said motor being provided with a 'discharge outlet communicating with said air supply pipe on the opposite side of said valve.4

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

CHAUNCEY SHORMAN.

Witnesses Il. HALL, HENRY A. PARKS. 

